Bermuda could eventually become part of a Caribbean team vying for a berth in the Rugby World Cup.

Talks have been ongoing which would see players from Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, the Virgin Islands, Barbados and Martinique form a single side which would then go through a qualifying phase for the ultimate goal of playing in rugby's grandest showcase.

The possibility of forming such a team was again discussed during the recent build-up to Bermuda's World Cup qualifying game against the United States in March. The issue gathered steam after the US overpowered a valiant Bermuda team 60-3 in the biggest rugby game to ever hit these shores.

Barry Simms, chairman of the Bahamas Rugby Union, said in a recent issue of British-based Rugby World Kick off! that Caribbean teams, which would include Bermuda, would be wise to form a united team.

"We had a very successful meeting with Keith Rowlands, the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) secretary, regarding our various problems,'' Simms said in an interview. "Given our individual weaknesses we asked the IRFB whether we could form a united Caribbean team, similar to the Gulf States, to enter in the World Cup as such. We believed we could be quite competitive as a united team...we discussed the concept amongst ourselves and believe it's worth giving it a try.'' Peter Borland, president of the Bermuda Rugby Football Union (BRFU) and secretary of the Caribbean Rugby Football Union, confirmed that there was a possibility Bermuda would eventually become part of a Caribbean all-star side, but he did not expect it to happen until after the 1999 World Rugby Cup. The 1995 World Cup takes place next fall in South Africa.

"We spoke about it at the Caribbean Championships in November and we've talked about forming a side in the past, but it's something that is down the road,'' he admitted yesterday. "There are lots of difficulties to overcome before we put a representative side together.'' The biggest hurdle is the economic one, especially for Bermuda since players here would likely be expected to travel to the Caribbean for training. The US Eagles proved just how difficult it was to form a team for training sessions for the qualifier against Bermuda.

"Our players spent nine months training and it worked out very well for us in the end,'' said Borland, who was expected earn his second consecutive term as president at the BRFU's annual general meeting last night. "But look at the difficulties the United States had. I think maybe it would be feasible to get a team together for a tour once a year, but for a squad to actually compete, that would be an improbable achievement right now.'' He added: "We found it difficult in getting each individual person to give a nine months commitment and you need at least nine months of training to play at that level.'' In what is considered a first step towards a Caribbean All-Star team, Bermuda captain Alvin Harvey and Patrick Cooper -- two stalwarts of the national team -- participated last weekend in the Benidorm Sevens tournament in Spain.

The Caribbean side was also comprised of three representatives from Martinique, four from Trinidad and one player from Venezuela. The team played three games, with losses to Ukraine (49-0) and Latvia (31-14) and a draw against Latvia (14-14).

"The tournament was very well organised and was a good class of rugby,'' Harvey said. "But the fact that we never played together before was a bit of a hindrance and we could have done better, but it was a good trip.'' Harvey said the team practised for only an hour before their first game and because the coach and several players were unilingually French, there was a language barrier to overcome.

"We had meetings where there were three different interpreters going at the same time,'' said Harvey, laughing.

Said Cooper: "We found the standard of rugby very good, but the language problems made things extra difficult. Sevens is a game of communication and knowing what the people around you are doing. I think Bermuda itself could have put a better team out there.'' Borland, who succeeded Tom Waters as BRFU president in January, 1993, said last year would be remembered as a good one for local rugby.

That was underlined by the impressive spread in Rugby World Kick off! which included a cover photo of Harvey. USA wins the day; Bermuda wins the hearts particularly lauded Bermuda on the way the World Cup qualifier was handled on and off the field.

"I thought the year went very well,'' said Borland. "At the national level the players and coaches gave full commitment. But at a club level we were hurting for players. The fixture list was disjointed and local players didn't play as much rugby as they wanted to because of the Eagles game. We'd like to get that straight next year.

"Now that we've been given a pat on the back we've got to move forward. I'd like to see where the sport gets more people involved and there's progress on youth development.'' It has also been an incredible year for Harvey, the Amstel Player of the Year, who played in the Eagles clash, Caribbean championships and Spain and was a vital cog in Teachers' remarkable season.

"It was quite a year,'' he said. "But now it's time for fitted dinghy racing and fishing.'' TOUGH GOING -- Bermuda players Danny Cozens, Ashley Cooper, David Cooke and Scott Correia in action during the defeat by US Eagles.